Construction on Sixers practice facility could begin soon

“I believe we’re the last team in the NBA to have our own facility. It was a big part of the reason I was attracted to this program,” said Sixers coach Brett Brown.(Photo: Howard Smith/USA TODAY Sports)

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Sixers have practiced at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine since 1999

PHILADELPHIA – Construction on the 76ers' new practice facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard could begin as early as this summer, Sixers CEO Scott O'Neil said Monday night.

First-year Sixers coach Brett Brown said the facility is an integral component to attracting top-tier free agents and building a championship contender and was a major reason why he decided to join the Sixers after winning four NBA titles as a longtime assistant with the Spurs.

"I just know from my job and the need to develop, it's crucial," Brown said. "It's a huge part of an NBA program. We're aggressive in trying to make sure that that happens within a realistic time frame. I believe we're the last team in the NBA to have our own facility. It was a big part of the reason I was attracted to this program. And the owners and [Sixers general manager] Sam [Hinkie] have been great. They've been fantastic understanding the importance of this next step to allowing us to better develop our players."

In June, Sports Business Journal reported that the Sixers were soliciting proposals from architects to construct a 55,000-square-foot practice facility at the Navy Yard that would open in June 2015, if all went according to plan, citing an estimated cost of $20 to $25 million.

The Sixers have practiced at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 10 miles from the Wells Fargo Center, since 1999. The Navy Yard is fewer than 2 miles from the arena.

"PCOM have been extremely hospitable in every way they can," Brown said. "The fact is we're a tenant. And I saw the daylight when I was in San Antonio, when we were at Trinity College and then we had our own practice facility and you see people come at all hours of the night, where you have 24/7, 365 days a year finger-scanned access. They come and they bring their families there from time to time. People gather there from time to time. You have dinner and lunch with your own teammates and you can frequent it any time you want. It's a private, very sacred area.

"People wouldn't even have known that that place existed," he said. "It wasn't marked, it wasn't prettied up, it was a very workmanlike environment. And all those things, just an area where you really feel good about going to work because you know it's ours, you're not a tenant, you have access to it any time you want, you're not going to bump into students, you're going to know where you're going to park. It is never-ending the benefits of that, and that's around the corner, along with our development work, along with our draft picks, it's that 'if you build it they will come thing,' and we look forward to building it."

Moultrie returns

Second-year forward Arnett Moultrie returned to the Sixers after a serving a five-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, levied after his third positive test for marijuana.

It's unclear whether he has a future with the team.

"I think that'll be determined," Brown said. "Arnett's highs and lows have been well-documented this year. He's obviously talented. There's a reason why he was drafted in the first round."

The Sixers still owe a lottery-protected first-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics, via the Miami Heat, to complete the trade for the 6-foot-11, 249-pound power forward, who was drafted 27th overall in 2012 out of Mississippi State. If the Sixers do not qualify for the playoffs next season, the obligation converts into two second-round picks, one due in 2015 and another in 2016.

In 12 NBA games this season, the 23-year-old has averaged three points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per contest. He appeared in 47 games last season, when he averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.

Moultrie also averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds this season in eight games with the NBA Development League's 87ers.

"His future will be assessed as time unfolds," Brown said. "What I do know is he's still a member of this team and we'll do everything we can to help him, continue to try to work with him and develop him. What the future holds, I'm not sure."

Sims to stick?

Second-year Sixers center Henry Sims started the 24th game of his career Monday night against the Boston Celtics, with all of those starts coming after he was traded to Philadelphia as part of the Feb. 20 deal that sent Spencer Hawes to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And while Nerlens Noel promises to serve as the Sixers' starting big man of the future, the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Sims seems to have used this opportunity to solidify a spot on the roster next season.

"I hope so. I love him," Brown said. "It's like there is a workmanlike mentality with him. He's serious and he's grumpy and he's physical and he's a better shooter than I thought and he's Georgetown coached and he's tough. There's qualities that are so appealing to me. He's not an above the rim player. There's not a lot of sexy-type stuff going on with his game. It's just blue collar and here I am, and what I see I really like. And I think he's taken an opportunity with his minutes to prove to everybody what I just said. At 23 years old, he's showing a lot of great things."

Sims has averaged 11.8 points, seven rebounds, 1.7 assists and 26.8 minutes per game since landing with the Sixers. He had averaged 2.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 20 games prior to the trade.

The Sixers acquired Sims, Earl Clark and two second-round picks from the Cavaliers in exchange for Hawes. Clark was waived the same day.